Billionaire kidnapper, Evans seeks for freedom

Billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, on Friday filed an application to be released on bail and for his case to be given accelerated hearing.

The accused who is facing a two-count amended charge of conspiracy and kidnapping at the Ikeja High Court, Lagos made the application at the resumed hearing of his trial.Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bay, described the application as confusing and an abuse of court processes. She said it is a ploy to frustrate the trial.

Evans had on October 19 at an Ikeja High Court made a U-turn as he entered a plea of `not guilty’ as he was re-arraigned on a two-count amended charge of conspiracy and kidnapping. On August 30, Evans had at his arraignment pleaded guilty to the charges, while other alleged accomplices — Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, the only female defendant, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba — denied the charges.

They were charged with the kidnap of Mr Donatius Duru on August 30.The punishment section in the second count of amended charge was changed from Section 271 (3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State to Section 2(1) of the Kidnap Prohibition Law of the Laws of Lagos 2017.

According to the prosecution led by Ms. P.K. Shitta-bey, the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Evans and his accomplices committed the offence of conspiracy at 7.45 p.m. on Feb. 14 on Obokun Street, Ilupeju, Lagos.The prosecution said the defendants between February 14 and April 12 at Obokun Street, Ilupeju, while armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, captured and detained Duru.

The defendants allegedly collected a ransom of 223,000 euros for the release of Donatius. Before the amended charges were read to the defendants, Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje, the counsel to Evans and Amadi had opposed the reading of the charges to them. During his last arraignment, Evans changed his plea from guilty to not guilty.

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